WALGA backs push for properly rated cyclone shelters

The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) has endorsed a proposal for the Building Code of Australia to include minimum standards for cyclone shelters.

Pilbara councils requested the association support the move at WALGA's state council meeting in Karratha on Friday.

The Shire of Roebourne says there are currently no specific standards for cyclone shelters in the community or for private shelters, such as those on mine sites.

Pilbara Regional Council chairwoman and WALGA deputy state president, Lynne Craigie, says a request will now be lodged with the building codes board.

"The discussion centred around making sure we get the building code to acknowledge that cyclone shelters need to be appropriately rated in the north-west and particularly in the Pilbara," she said.

"There was no dissent from that, everyone was in major agreement that we wanted WALGA to support us in this and state council agreed, they were happy to do so.

"The process from here is normally that WALGA would submit an application on our behalf and join with the shires of the north-west, particularly the Shire of Roebourne, and we would act together to ensure an amendment gets put through to include this."